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Spider Webs in Your Vision – What It Means, Why It Happens, and How Serious Is It?

Seeing spider webs across your vision can be concerning or at least momentarily distracting. However, some of the worry is often based on not knowing what’s causing the spider webs and whether they are indicative of a serious condition.  

If you wonder what the spider webs in your vision mean, why they occur, and whether the situation requires treatment, here’s what you need to know.  

What Are Spider Webs in Your Vision?  

Spider webs in your vision are a visual phenomenon. At times, they are also described as cobwebs or floaters, the latter of which refers to the shifting nature of the specks or lines.  

In some cases, the spider webs seem nearly transparent. In others, they may look closer to hazing black dots.  

Most people notice spider webs in their vision when they are looking at a bright white surface, such as a wall. They may also be noticeable if you’re gazing at a light blue sky, especially if the sun is shining.  

Why Do Spider Webs in Your Vision Occur?  

Usually, spider webs in your vision are the result of posterior vitreous detachment. The bulk of the eye is made up of the vitreous body, which is comprised of a jelly-like substance. If the vitreous body pulls away from the retina, the jelly may form strands or shapes. As those strands shift, they cast shadows on the retina, creating a visual phenomenon that looks like spider webs, cobwebs, or floaters.  

Changes to the vitreous body are common as people age. Over time, the jelly-like substance can shrink, making a posterior vitreous detachment more likely.  

Additionally, proteins in the gel can clump together. These can create the cobweb effect, as well as spots, rings, or other shapes.  

Typically, floaters develop between the ages of 50 and 75. However, they can occur in younger people, particularly those with significant myopia (nearsightedness), past eye trauma, or diabetes. Additionally, those who have undergone a cataract operation are at a higher risk of developing them early.  

How Serious are Spider Webs in Your Vision?  

Generally speaking, spider webs in your vision aren’t serious. They mainly don’t negatively impact vision and are more of an occasional annoyance. In time, you may even learn to ignore them even if they don’t disappear entirely.  

As a result, treatment is rarely recommended for common floaters if they aren’t impacting vision significantly. For those who are having a negative impact on vision, a surgical procedure may be recommended to remove the floaters from the vitreous body. There are risks of undergoing the procedure, so it isn’t usually recommended unless the situation is severe.  

However, if the number of floaters increases suddenly or they are accompanied by a bright flash of light, that could be the onset of a severe condition. Similarly, if the floaters occur along with a sudden vision change that’s similar to a veil or curtain descending over your visual field, that could also be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a retinal detachment. If that is the case, prompt medical treatment could be essential to ensure no vision is lost.  

At ECVA, we take the safety and health of our patients’ eyes seriously. If you are concerned about the presence of spider webs in your vision or are experiencing other systems like bright flashed of light or quick chances to your visual field, we are here to help. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.   

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Does Dark Mode Reduce Eye Strain?

Woman looking at a tablet

Many people believe that using the dark mode on their computer, smartphone, or tablet is better for their eyes. Usually, this is because dark mode can reduce a person’s exposure to bright light emanating from a screen, particularly blue light.  

But does dark mode actually reduce eye strain? If you’re wondering whether dark mode makes a difference, here’s what you need to know.  

What Is Dark Mode?  

Dark mode is a visual setting that you can either find on your device or in specific apps. Usually, it shifts the look of the screen from a light background with dark text to a darker background with light text. In some cases, other aspects of the screen – such as the images displayed on the web page or in the app – are largely unaffected, though that isn’t always the case.  

Overall, with dark mode in place, the amount of blue light a device emits is diminished. However, the reduction is fairly limited.  

Does Dark Mode Reduce Eye Strain?  

Generally speaking, dark mode doesn’t reduce eye strain. In fact, it could make eye strain more likely for certain individuals.  

While dark mode does lessen the screen’s overall brightness, which may seem easier on your eyes, it also causes your eyes to dilate. Since there is less light to take in, your eyes have to work harder to see clearly.  

Eye dilation can reduce your vision’s sharpness, so you may have to strain to see well. That can lead to negative side effects, including headaches and eye fatigue.  

For anyone who has astigmatism or myopia, dark mode may increase the appearance of halos. When halos are present, what the person is looking at may seem blurry or foggy, a situation that can promote eye strain.  

There is one situation where dark mode might reduce eye strain. Dark mode can potentially diminish screen glare, which could be beneficial.  

Does Dark Mode Have Any Other Benefits?  

Yes, dark mode may have some benefits. Since it does reduce blue light, it can potentially promote better sleep. Blue light, particularly at night, may disrupt your circadian rhythm and make you more alert. When that occurs, falling asleep is harder.  

By using dark mode, you can limit your blue light exposure. By doing so, you may have an easier time falling asleep.  

However, if poor sleep quality is an issue, it’s best to put all devices away – including computers, smartphones, and tablets, as well as avoiding television – at least two hours before bed.  

Beyond health, dark mode may also have some additional benefits. Since it results in lower screen brightness, it may extend a device’s battery life. It could also make viewing a screen in a dark room easier.  

Ultimately, dark mode is largely an aesthetic choice, though it may provide some minimal benefits in specific situations. However, when it comes to eye strain, dark mode isn’t a guaranteed solution.  

At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for the eye health of our patients. If you haven’t had an eye exam recently or are struggling with eye strain, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.  

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Do I Need Readers?

Over time, a person’s vision typically changes. Losing near vision is one such change, frequently impacting people as they reach their 40s and beyond. It’s a normal part of the aging process, leading to a condition called presbyopia.  

One normal response to this shift in visual acuity is to get reading glasses or readers. These types of corrective lenses can help you see items that you’re holding up close, such as the pages of a book you want to read.  

If you want to know if you need readers, here’s what you need to know.  

What Is Presbyopia?  

First, it’s important to understand a bit about what presbyopia is and what it isn’t. Presbyopia is a form of farsightedness caused by an eye’s loss of lens elasticity, something that generally happens naturally as a person ages, usually starting when a person is in their mid-40s.  

As the lens hardens, it struggles to focus properly, impacting visual acuity. Having trouble reading is usually one of the first signs of presbyopia, leading people to hold objects further away in an attempt to focus on the text.  

However, presbyopia is not the only form of farsightedness. Hyperopia – a form of farsightedness – also makes it harder to view items that are close to your eyes. But hyperopia is caused by irregularities in the eye’s shape, not a loss of elasticity.  

How to Tell If You Need Readers  

Figuring out whether your vision changes are related to presbyopia, hyperopia, or another eye condition usually requires a thorough eye exam. That way, they can determine which course of treatment is best.  

If it is presbyopia, glasses are usually the answer. For people who don’t have any issues with their distance vision, readers may be all you need. They allow you to increase your up-close visual acuity when you need it, such as when you’re reading. Then, you can take them off when you’re relying on your distance vision.  

In the early stages of presbyopia, readers with diopters of +1.25 to +1.50 are usually enough. However, as your vision continues to change, you may need stronger reading glasses, potentially up to +2.50 to +2.75 by the time you reach your late 50s or early 60s.  

However, if your distance vision also needs correction, then bifocals may be a better choice. A section near each lens base will have a different prescription, one dedicated to close tasks like reading. The upper portion of the lens will have your distance vision prescription, allowing you to cover both visual issues. When you need your near vision, you simply focus through the lower section of the lens. When you don’t, you use the mid to upper portion.  

As with readers, your bifocals may also need to be adjusted over time. That way, you can have the right strength, allowing you to see up close with greater ease.  

If you think you may have presbyopia or are experiencing any vision changes, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. At ECVA, our staff works diligently to care for patients’ health and will help determine the cause of your vision changes and identify the right course of treatment. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.